Post re: Oct.24 Class

Maria G's Musings---Blog Posting for Oct.24 2009

Awareness......the word that perpetually floats around in my head......

• Am I the rabbit or the donkey??

I'd like to think that I am a combination of both of them.....but in reality I would assume that I am mainly the donkey, with ever increasing "rabbit" moments.....to allow myself to teach as the rabbit learns certainly requires a loss of control that I am presently uncomfortable with...this is my challenge, to constantly question myself as I am teaching-- am I teaching as the donkey or the rabbit.....I also ask myself, if I were 6 again, which teaching method would I thrive and delight in more?

• Gee & Lankshear Article-Discourses & Literacy

I am continuously reminded of the constant pressure that surrounds us all to 'say the right thing at the right time' this is something that can be felt in all realms of my life (the underlying premise being-know your damned role OR you will pay for it with negative social consequences). To truly be able to live according to the philosophy 'when in Rome do as the Romans do' is easier said than done--because it involves an INCREDIBLE amount of deduction, inferring, and time to figure out exactly what the Romans are up to.....and when you do, it may be too late.... I have continued to endeavour to adopt that philosophy throughout the course of my life- I'd like to think it has been successful, as I am generally a quick study- and the more experience and opportunities that I have had over the years(travel, and relocation to other environments) has been a major contributing factor in my ability to do so....The question is....how do I begin to help the children in doing the same? As a response to this question, I love that whole notion of "take the kids to europe"- (been there and loved that!!!)

• Make your own map

The whole idea that a child is best served by allowing the child to make his own map, rather than to provide him with an already made one seems painfully obvious, however, allowing the child to make his own map will probably take 4X as long....this the reality....The pressure of time constraints and the reality of life (trying to teach when you are emotionally trying to be there for sick kids, hurt kids, neglected kids, takes its toll on your brain and on the soul)....

• Good old days are gone

A notion that I am constantly struggling with.....I know that I am guilty of obsessively reminiscing about the 'good old days'...part of me longs to get them back....life seemed "safer then" (makes me think back to an article we read on trying to embrace uncertainty, as 'feeling as though you know it all' leads to a contrived path of stagnation)...I always seem to forget (need to remind myself) that we are living in a different time, and that the world has changed....Sometimes I fear that I am not changing or moving fast enough to keep up with it's rapid change of pace...

• Favourite/Most notable quote from the readings: Don't throw the baby out with the bath water

Article#5:Belenky,Clinchy,Goldberger,Tarule- Women’s ways of knowingp.218
“Midwife-teachers focus not on their own knowledge (as the lecturer does) but on the students’ knowledge. They contribute when needed, but it is always clear that the baby is not theirs but the student’s..."

-Reminder that curriculum should be child centred (micro focussed)...although problem lies in the fact that those in power expect us to be obsessed by the curriculum that is mandated from above (macro focussed)

• Final note

I am discovering that the more I write down (vocalize) my feelings in the Blog Posting process, that I feel more optimistic about finding solutions to whatever might be ailing me (makes me feel more proactive, as opposed to reactive)...

Happy Hallowe'en to ALL!!

Cheers!